International stage and screen actress Gemma Arterton is currently preparing to star as Rita O’Grady in the West End’s newest musical, Made In Dagenham.
Based on the hit British film, Made In Dagenham opens at the Adelphi Theatre in November. The new musical comedy has been in development for around four years, with Gemma involved from the early workshop stages.
Based on the hit British film, Made In Dagenham opens at the Adelphi Theatre in November. The new musical comedy has been in development for around four years, with Gemma involved from the early workshop stages.
Director Rupert Goold has gathered a dream team to adapt the successful film for the stage. Made in Dagenham has a book by Richard Bean, music by David Arnold and lyrics by Richard Thomas.
Yesterday (Tuesday 17th June) I headed to the Playhouse Theatre for the musical’s press launch. First we were treated to five of the show’s catchy, funny and poignant numbers which showed off the piece’s huge potential. It certainly is set to be the most relevant new musical we’ve seen in the West End for a while!
Gemma made her professional stage debut at the Globe in 2007 as Rosaline in Love's Labour's Lost. Earlier this year she returned to the theatre to star in the title role in The Duchess of Malfi. On stage Gemma has also starred as Hilde Wangel in Ibsen's The Master Builder (Almeida) and as Ellen in Jamie Lloyd's production of The Little Dog Laughed (Garrick).
On screen she has played Tess in the BBC television adaptation of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles and Tamara Drewe in Stephen Frears' film of the same name. Her other film credits include: Quantum of Solace, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, St Trinian's, The Disappearance of Alice Creed, Hansel and Gretel and Runner Runner.
Set in Essex, 1968, the musical follows Rita O’Grady who is living an ordinary life one day, and is changing politics the next, fighting for equal pay. Made In Dagenham looks set to be fantastic fun whilst also having an important story to tell. After watching the musical numbers I spoke to the show's star to discuss how her involvement in the production came about…
Gemma posing for photographers at the Made In Dagenham launch
“Well I had seen the film, which I loved.” Gemma told me, “I thought it was absolutely amazing and didn’t get as many accolades as it should have. Sally (Hawkins) was so brilliant in it and it moved me a lot. I was making a movie in Ireland with Stephen Woolley (producer) called Byzantium and he had heard me singing and caught me off guard. He said, “Hey look, here’s a CD. Listen to it and let me know what you think.” It was just a rough assemblage of some of the songs, some of which aren’t even in it now. This was two and a half years ago.
“I remember sitting in my bath listening to my ballad and I got goosebumps. I had this vision, it is just so well written and it’s actually quite rare in modern day musical theatre that we can be so moved by a song’s lyrics. I obviously knew the story because I’d seen the film, so I said to him (Stephen), “Ahh, it’s really good… oh ok… I’ll do the workshop!” But I was really nervous – it’s a huge deal to agree to do a musical and I wasn’t a musical theatre actor.
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| Gemma as Rita O’Grady |
“I think I’ve done three workshops now. The script that supports it is so brilliant, as is everything about it in fact! After the first workshop I really had to get over my fears; I really wanted to do it more than anything because of the story and because of the message. All of the components together are brilliant. So I got over it… and said yes!”
Gemma may have overcome her fears but how does she think she’ll be feeling as she gets ready for the first preview? “I will be absolutely petrified, 100% percent” Gemma admitted, “I just walked past the theatre and was like ‘ahh’ – 2,000 seats or whatever it is! I don’t want to know!
“Today (at the press launch performance) I was alright!” she told me, “I quite like being nervous, I might ramp it up a bit too much but it’s musical theatre… it’s not like we’re doing Ibsen! I remember when I was really, really nervous doing Ibsen and I was like ‘I’ve got to keep it down’.
“Sometimes on the first night you’re so nervous that you’re running on adrenaline, but actually with Ibsen you’ve got to push that adrenaline right down [laughs]. Whereas with this you can use the adrenaline – it’s alright!”
Gemma also spoke in the press room about the appeal of the show’s message, “They were these Essex girls who changed politics! I really connected with that, it just goes to show anyone can do anything. In the workshops I’ve actually had to pull myself back a bit because I’m quite strong and what’s interesting about Rita is that she’s not a leader – at the beginning she’s just a mum who works in a factory.
“I know so many women who are like Rita, people I grew up with. I’m from Kent, not Essex, but it’s not too distant. It’s very human, that’s what I love about this show. It’s got things we can all relate to. Sometimes in musical theatre it’s so grand and fabulous that it’s not real. We want that – there’s a place for that – but this show is different because it’s rooted in reality. It has fancy frilly stuff and there’s a moment where all the cast break into this big Shirley Bassey style number, but at the same time we want grit and reality. We need to tell the story.”
Gemma & the cast of Made In Dagenham perform at the musical's launch
As well as recently presenting the Olivier Awards, Gemma has been seeing lots of theatre to prepare for her performance. “All I’ve seen recently is musicals” she explained, “it’s bad because there’s loads of really great theatre in London and I’ve just been going to see musicals! For Father’s Day I took my Dad to see Jersey Boys! I love it and when it’s done really well it sends shivers down your spine.”
The actress is contracted to star in the musical for the first six months of its run, “There are no phone calls from my agent any more [laughs]” said Gemma, “At the moment I’m just focussed on this. I’ve got maybe a little film that I’m doing in the summer and there are two films I’m promoting at the moment which are totally different to this – it’s mad! This is my life for the next nine months, it’s lovely!”
As the musical’s opening draws closer, it seems Gemma genuinely can’t wait to get going and is thrilled to be making her musical theatre debut, “I’ve always loved singing and always wanted to be in a musical… but I wanted to be in a new one, so luckily this one came along!”
Andrew Tomlins (Editor)
Made In Dagenham opens at the Adelphi Theatre on Wednesday 5th November (previews from 9th October).
Photo Credit 1&3: Alex James
Photo Credit 2&4: Brendan Foster
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